‘We need help’: Families forced out after North Miami apartment deemed unsafe

Families living in a North Miami apartment building say they’re scrambling to find a new place to live after the city declared several units unsafe.

One mother who lives in the building at 11930 Northeast 19th Drive said she feels stuck, worried about the conditions inside her home but unsure where her family will go next.

Tenants said they were given just days to move out after parts of the building were deemed unsafe, and one said two representatives finally came out Friday morning to speak with residents about emergency housing assistance.

“Have to pick up and leave and then not know where you’re gonna go and feel like you don’t have any help, any resources — no one is listening or hearing you,” April Lynch said. “You’re screaming for help but no one is listening.”

Lynch lives in the building with her 2 children and her apartment is among the 10 that were issued a vacate notice from the City of North Miami after multiple units were deemed unsafe.

“Sagging floors, cracks on the walls, cracks in the floors,” Lynch said.

Inside Lynch’s apartment there are cracks throughout the walls and moisture when you press on them. She says she feels unsafe, but has nowhere to go.

“We need help. We can’t do this by ourselves. We don’t have these deposits. Some of these deposits are ridiculous. They want three times the rent — who can afford $10,000 right now?” she said.

Lynch says she received the notice to vacate on March 2 and was told she had to be out by March 9. She says the city sent two representatives to the building Friday morning.

“They were sent out here to get our numbers to help us with emergency housing assistance. They’re finally doing something and we appreciate it,” she said.

The City of North Miami released this statement to NBC6.

“The building was issued an unsafe structure violation in December 2025 after inspections found structural issues, including sagging floors and cracks,” the statement read, in part. “Officials say 10 units were ultimately deemed unsafe, and tenants were ordered to vacate by March 9 while the city works with the building owner on repairs.”

Meanwhile, residents like Lynch are packing up moving trucks and hoping to find a new place to live soon.

The city also said residents who are affected can reach out to North Miami’s Housing and Social Services Department for additional resources.